At a joint session of the Kazakh
Parliament, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced that the government will
make every effort to ensure economic growth at six percent and outlined
specific measures to achieve this goal. Priority support will be provided to
construction, infrastructure, processing, and agro-industrial complex
identified as key points of growth. Kazakh Finance Minister Madi Takiyev
reported on the implementation of the 2023 budget, which was ultimately
approved by Parliament. Last year, GDP growth reached 5.1 percent, and annual
inflation reduced by half to 9.8 percent. The annual revenue plan for the
national budget was fulfilled by 99.9 percent, and the expenditure plan by 99.6
percent, Takiyev reported. Also, the assets of Kazakhstan’s National Fund
increased to $60 billion. In conclusion, the minister commented on the Supreme
Audit Chamber’s review of the revenue side of the budget.
«The ongoing work to boost the
volume of non-cash payments made a significant impact on reducing the shadow
economy. Last year, the Comprehensive Plan of Measures to Counteract the Shadow
Economy for 2023-2025 was adopted. The implementation of the envisaged measures
allowed to decrease the level of the shadow economy to 18.8 percent of GDP in
2022, with a target of 19.9 percent. The ministry places a high priority on the
comprehensive digitalization of all processes,» Takiyev said.